College life should be filled with excitement and new opportunities, but many Jewish students fear for their safety as the semester begins. On Friday, August 30th, just before Shabbat, a group of Jewish students were attacked by an individual wielding a bottle near the Cathedral of Learning. No Jewish student should be afraid or be under threat of violence while walking on or near campus. There is no place for antisemitism, hate or violence in our community. And while we are saddened by this, we are grateful the ongoing collaboration with Hillel JUC, our university leaders, and law-enforcement. Recognizing the importance of students’ security and well-being, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh developed the Back to School Countering Active Threat Training (CATT) class to equip them with the tools needed to protect themselves effectively.

The training encompasses a range of critical skills, from situational awareness to practical self-defense training. Our goal is to empower students, giving them the confidence to handle potential threats and the knowledge to avoid dangerous situations. The impact of the class has been profound. Participant Sheina Shira shared,

“I feel much more confident and prepared. The techniques we learned are practical and easy to remember. I feel more comfortable going back to campus now.”

We’re proud of the safety program’s success—part of many efforts that strengthen Jewish life and help those in need. Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can create a more secure and empowering environment for our students and work towards a safer, more inclusive world.